In order to accomplish this, NICU nurses needed a firm understanding of the developmental problems associated with the high risk and the premature infant. It was critical that this group of caregivers understands the fundamentals of neurosensory growth of these infants. It is also vital that they understand how the intrauterine environment protects the infant from being exposed to the fluctuation of an unstable extrauterine environment.
The Phillip’s Neonatal Integrative Developmental Care Model was the model that we used for implementation. The seven neuroprotective core measure for family-centered developmental care identified are: the healing environment, partnering with families, positioning and handling, minimizing stress and pain, safeguarding sleep, protecting skin and optimizing nutrition. This model is represented by the lotus flower. In the center, the first core measure is healing environment. Each of the remaining six core measures are depicted as overlapping petals to display the integrative nature of developmental care (Altimier & Phillips, 2013) (Phillips, 2015).
The goal of the unit was to empower families by partnering with them to develop proper skills in caring for their infant (Westrup, 2007) positively impacting their stress level, comfort level and confidence as well as increasing family satisfaction (Cooper, Gooding, Gallagher, Sternesky, Ledsky & Berns, 2007). The goals of the NICU nurses were to gain new knowledge, skills and increased nurse satisfaction by providing developmental care using the seven core measures of neuroprotective family centered care for every infant every time (Cardin, Rens, Stewart, Danner-Bowman, McCarley & Kopsas, 2015).
The NICU staff was educated on the “Seven Core Measures of Family-Centered Developmental Care” by providing educational materials and hands on training with a developmental care specialist. After completion of the training the neuroprotective interventions were implemented on every NICU infant. Parents were give verbal and printed information and educated on the meaning of family centered care.
Conclusion from pre and post surveys that were collected from our NICU nurses showed an increase in knowledge of the appropriate care and potential benefits of these interventions. Pre and post Press-Ganey reports were collected from parents and results showed an increase in satisfaction over most categories. Also the results from parents during discharge phone calls surveys showed NICU families had a strong satisfaction with the partnering of care and the level of family centered care their infant received.With these results it is essential for NICU nurses to provide developmental care using the seven core measures of neuroprotective family centered care as the standard of care for every infant and family that walks through the NICU doors (McGrath, Samra, Kenner, 2011).